What Do Postsecondary Principals Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Postsecondary Principals plan, direct, or coordinate research, instructional, student administration and services, and other educational activities at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges. They also direct activities of administrative departments, such as admissions, registration, and career services.

Other tasks include:

• Appoint individuals to faculty positions, and evaluate their performance.
• Develop curricula, and recommend curricula revisions and additions.
• Design or use assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.
• Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
• Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.
• Consult with government regulatory and licensing agencies to ensure the institution’s conformance with applicable standards.

We asked Postsecondary Principals how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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76% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 77% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Postsecondary Principals direct activities of administrative departments, such as admissions, registration, and career services. They direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.

A typical day for a Postsecondary Education Administrator will also include:

• Direct scholarship, fellowship, and loan programs, performing activities such as selecting recipients and distributing aid.
• Provide assistance to faculty and staff in duties such as teaching classes, conducting orientation programs, issuing transcripts, and scheduling events.
• Participate in faculty and college committee activities.
• Plan, administer, and control budgets, maintain financial records, and produce financial reports.
• Promote the university by participating in community, state, and national events or meetings, and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.

We asked some Postsecondary Principals a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	94% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	71% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	93% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	47% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	52% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Postsecondary Principals also teach courses within their department. They may also represent institutions at community and campus events, in meetings with other institution personnel, and during accreditation processes.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Postsecondary Principals Advise students on issues such as course selection, progress toward graduation, and career decisions. They might also Promote the university by participating in community, state, and national events or meetings, and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.

In addition, they Participate in student recruitment, selection, and admission, making admissions recommendations when required to do so.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Participate in faculty and college committee activities.

To some Postsecondary Principals, it is also their responsibility to Plan, administer, and control budgets, maintain financial records, and produce financial reports.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Postsecondary Education Administrator, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm

http://www.cgsnet.org/

https://www.acteonline.org/

http://www.teach.org/